Street indicator



March 17, 1925.

H. J. SMITH STREET INDICATOR Filed March 25, 1924 l 4 THE NEXT STREET 1 "'7 PINE 5T 1T THAT I5 YOUR\ STREET FUSH BUTTON.

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i mrfisfi 6 A 'jfim slijjj make and use the same.

Patented Mar. 1' 7, 1925 I UNITEDSTATESA'A HAMILTON 1. SMITH, or nIo MoNn, VIRGINIA;

s'rnnn'r INDICATOR.

Application filed March 25, 1924. Serial No. 701,748.

To allwhom it may concern: 7

Be it known'that I, HAMILTON SMrrH,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henri'coand State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street Indicators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to My invention relates to new and useful improvements in street indicators, and has for its object to provide a deviceof this kmd, which is simple in construction, accurate in operation and which can be manufactured at a reduced cost.

It is a well known fact, that at are often strangers, do not know when they have reached the street or station at which they desire to leave the car. Ijhey will frequently ask a conductor to lIlfOlHl, them when they arrive at a certain street, and the conductor will sometimes remember, but more often he is thinking of somethlng else until it is too late, or he will not know the streets well enough himself.

This is very inconvenient to the passengers, especially when they are in a hurry and will have to walk several blocks toreach the desired destination. I

With my improved device this difliculty is overcome. The conductor simply turns a handle or'lever at each corner and sounds an alarm to inform all of the passengersjust where'the car is.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in. the ac companying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In referring to the drawing, numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 is a front view of street indicator. 3 p

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig.1. I

h Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fi 2 showing the device with the front remy improved b moved, and

Fig. 4: is a side View of F 1, showing the handle and ratchet mechanism.

. Inthedrawings, 1 designates the box proper or casing, which maybe constructed of wood, metal,"a combination ofthe two, or; any other. suitable material. This casing includes two sections, 2 and 3, the former beingthe main portion in which the mechanism is mounted, and the latter being a sort of receptacle for the ends of the indicating strip :as will be described. later.

Between the side walls of the portion 2 of the-casing are rotatably mounted aplurality of rollers 4, 5 and 6, the rollers 4 and (Sbe in g free and frictionally driven, while the roller "5 is operated by a ratchet 7 mounted in connection with said roller outside of the casing 1. Between the ratchet 7 and the casing 1, pivoted on the bearingof the roller 5, is present, passengers on a street car, many of whom a lever 8, having secured to one end thereof a handle 9,'which actuates the ratchet 7 in [cam portion 11, which is engaged bya spring 12, and a ratchet engaging portion 13.

On the rollers 5 and 6, I provide a belt 14 composed of rubber or any suitable material, for creating friction, and which will serve as a support for the indicating strip 15. This strip .15 is free at both ends as shown in Fig. 3, and is composed of canvas or any other suitable material, having the names of the streets or stations printed or stenciled P NT oFFIcE.

thereon. The stripis' carried and gripped between the rollers 4 and 5, withits ends extending downwardly into the receptacle portion 3 of the casing 1. v

In front'ofthe'rollersand strip 15, I provide a plate 16, slidably mounted in the casing 1, and having therein a window 17, .through which can'be seen the names of the streets on the strip 15.

I The device is detachable and provided with hooks 18 to enableit to be fastened in either end of the car. I

"The operation of my invention is obvious.

The indicator is hooked up in-the end of the car where the conductorfcan easily reach it and as the car passes each corner,the conduotor sounds an alarm of any kind, and

pulls the lever 8, which causes the pawl 10 to engage the ratchet 7 and turn the same a predetermined distance. This in turn actuates theroller 5 and-with it the strip 15, which is fed between the rollers and 5, and which issupported by the rubberbelt no I wvindow 17.-

When the end of the route is reacheeh-the indicator is transferred; to the opposite end of the car and the pawl is reversed as shown in dotted lines in Big. a, and the operation is repeated.

This device may be used in buses, taxi cabs and local trains as well as street cars.

From the foregoin it is believed that my invention may be clearly understood, without further -'ae' scri1at ioa,- it being borne in that numerous changes may be 'In'ade in the details of construction, Without departing from the "spirit of the invention asdfisclos'ed 'in' the following claims. Y 7

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is V l. street indicator for use in vehicles, including; a easing, flexibie indicatin striphaving the names of streets there-on,

mounted in said casing, a plurality of rollers also mounted in sing, we of said rollersbeing provided W1 l1 a belt" to" support'sa-id strip, said strip being fed between the other of said; rollers and the last named rollers, past a Window and into and out of a receptacle, and means for operating said rollers.

2. A street warmer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said strip is free at both'ends, each end extendingi'fit'o the receptacle.

'3'. A street incii'cate as claimed in elaiin 1, wherein the means for" Petr t'i ngsard rollpawl and ratchet coast-raction;

4. A Street: indicator as claimed in claim v 1, wlierei'n the mean-s l o'r -"aff ratin said roll ers atheists of i-ervrsrtl'e pawl and ratchet construction.

Infie'stinway whereer I afiix my signature I I A VIi-TJIGN "SMITH. 

